Sami Salo Takes A Puck To The Groin (Vid + Commercial Remake)

It was do-or-die for the Vancouver Canucks last night at the Mad House on Madison in Chicago. Trailing their best-of-seven series 3-1 against the Blackhawks, the Canucks were in desperate need of a victory on the road if they wished to stay alive and return home for Game 6 of the Western Conference semi-finals Tuesday night.

You may have heard of the saying, “desperate times call for desperate measures.” Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo sure has, and for him, it appears as though taking a puck to the groin falls under the category of “desperate measures.” With time winding down in the second period and the Hawks on the power-play, Salo was content with heading to the dressing room up 2-0, and he was willing to sacrifice his body in order to make sure that happened.

Unfortunately, in doing so, a Duncan Keith slap shot from the point found a rather fragile body part of his. Salo would remain on the ice, crying in pain for several minutes at the conclusion of the period. He was eventually taken to the hospital where it was believed he may have ruptured a testicle on the play.

The Canucks would go on to win the game by a score of 4-1, once again making this series interesting as they head back home, down 3-2.

As for Salo, his blocked shot is just another example of the determination and sacrifice it takes to make it in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He may have also helped inspire yet another “History will be made” NHL Playoffs commercial.

If taking a puck to the nuts is what it takes to make history, I think I’m perfectly content with living in obscurity.